Archive for the Category: Labour and Birth

Last week I was with a couple for a one-to-one session. When we got on to the topic of pain relief in labour the mum said she just wanted to use gas and air if possible. We then talked about how she could manage without other forms of pain relief and I gave her some […]

There are usually several options to choose when making the decision where to have your baby; Hospital, Home, Birth Centre – Alongside (in the hospital), Birth Centre – Freestanding (away from the hospital), but which one is right for you? Which?, in association with BirthChoiceUK, have created an award winning online tool to help.

Maggie Howell of Natal Hypnotherapy has just announced their new online hypnobirthing course. Maggie says ‘ This new course is the accumulation of my 15 years knowledge, insight and experience of giving birth 5 times and helping 1000’s of women have a really positive experience through the use of hypnosis as well as teaching them the […]

I have been asked this question quite a few times by parents. What an amazing thing to be able to save a life with something that would normally be thrown away. Cord blood is rich in stem cells, which can help to cure many life threatening diseases. The stem cells found in cord blood can […]

The prospect of giving birth can be daunting whether you are having your first or your fourth baby. Here are some key things you can do to help yourself cope with labour, reduce complications and even shorten your labour. 1. Exercise Exercise during pregnancy can help you cope with the physical and mental demands of labour and giving […]

You want to be there to support her but how can you be a great birthing partner? Here are some tips: Be organised Pack the hospital bags together so that you know where everything is when she needs something. It can be stressful if you can’t find something she needs. Make sure there is always […]

We really appreciate the time people spend filling in evaluation forms at the end of the classes and I thought I would share some of the latest feedback. Which aspect of the course did you find most useful? ‘Explanation of the birth process, the early days following birth. The exercises encouraged participation. People are told […]

Trying to decide what to take with you for your hospital birth? It’s a good idea to have a bag packed by 37 weeks even if you are not planning a hospital birth in case you need to go in unexpectedly. Some people use one bag for everything and others pack one bag for mum […]

We have had many water babies born to BirthPrep parents over the last couple of years and some have enjoyed the new pool at Leeds General Infirmary. Until now the LGI has been the only place to go for a waterbirth in Leeds but now St. James’s Hospital is installing a pool. Work has started […]

As part of their Campaign for Normal Birth the Royal College of Midwives has created a series of video clips to demonstrate positions that can be used for labour and birth. They show both the birth centre and hospital environment. You can see how the birthing/gym ball is used in labour. If you would […]